having to formula feed..

I am falling apart.... All ive wanted was to breast feed. That was my biggest goal for me and my baby!!!... And now he has lost too much weight and is yellowing ... I've cried all day from the knowing they may make me supplement.... We are still in the hospital me as of 6/10 and him as of 6/11 and not leaving any time soon...

Comments (25)

I understand u want that connection. Yet with my two older I bottled and had wonderful turn out and had them off between 9 months to a year. I hope it turns out best good luck. I'm trying to give breast feeding a shot this time

I just posted on your other thread. I know how you feel. With my first I felt like I failed as a mother bc I couldn't provide the food my baby needed initially and that I was being told to give formula. My milk didn't come in for 5 days or so. I actually was sent home with the baby only to have to admit him 2 days later for the light therapy. Again I felt like such a failure. Somehow I kept working at the BF and when I wasn't BF I was pumping to try and get things started. I think my milk came in during the wee hrs if the night and I was elated when I was finally able to pump an ounce. Once I could get an ounce or two with the pump I could then supplement for some feedings by offering that milk instead of the formula. I think the key is to offer breast then the supplement.
My main theme here is that this doesn't mean you won't be able to BF. i was where you are now in tears etc and ended up BF for 18mo. GL and many hugs.

Thank you ladies. I just learned he is dropping even more weight ... I am beating myself up over this. Luckily my mom is with us in the hospital tonight because my SO is working.. my mom just had to give him his first bottle... I haven't slept all day because I've been feeding so frequently and everything that I haven't found time for sleep.
I feel like a failure and my poor nurse is about to cry from seeing me cry because I've had him on the boobs all day, I'm raw and he still lost weight. she hasn't once told me to use the formula because she know I didn't want it.

Supplementing is not the end of the world! Try not to be so hard on yourself. I had to supplement with my Aug 2011 baby and with my new baby because they were both big boys and I felt like they needed it. I then ended up BFing my older son for 17 mos and I plan to do the same with this one but probably just for 12 mos because I don't think I could do it for that long again! Don't give up!!

When I was supplementing with formula, I was told to offer the formula immediately after nursing. One pediatrician advised me to limit the BF time to 10 minutes each side, then immediately give bottle. That kept baby in the habit of BF without making my nipples raw. The pump can provide nipple stimulation to build your supply while baby sleeps.

Ask for a pump so you can rest your nipples a bit from baby, supplement only what you need to. They have options to make sure baby remembes how to latch etc.... this is what I had to do. Now I'm home andstill pumping because my lo has latch issues (so raw I was bleeding) but I am watching my milk supply come in and see how it increases each day. Good luck, its not the onlyoption to ff, get to ppumping so you can try again once the milk arrives

I had to supplemented at first because of a blood sugar issue. The first day she wouldn't even try to latch she just wanted the bottle. The pediatrician told me instead of a bottle to take a syringe of formula and slowly dribble it into the corner of her mouth so she still stimulates my nipple and associates my boob with food. Now she's 13 days old and breast feeding like a champ! Maybe it would work for you too.
Also, with my first I had an allergic reaction to his saliva (really rare) and my nipples broke out in hives!! I exclusively pumped for a while but it was to stressful for me and DS, he hated the sound of the pump and screamed whenever it was on, even if I wasn't attached to it. I ultimately ended up formula feeding him. I had a lot of guilt at first but it worked out well. He's one of the happiest and healthiest kids I've ever met and we have an amazing bond. If you do have to formula feed it isn't the end of the world. All that matters is what's best for your family and your LO.

I had to supplement with formula because my baby was high risk for jaundice. I tried to keep nursing as well but baby got lazy and just wanted the bottle. I have never cried so much or so hard it broke my heart to not be able to nurse. I know I could have probably gotten her back on the boob with a lot of work but I don't think it would have been worth the stress for me or baby.

I decided to just give her formula because I started to dread feeding her and I didn't want to resent her or our time together. It was a hard heartbreaking choice but I know it was the right one for us.

keep trying if you can but ultimately you have to take care of you and baby.

I, too, could not breast feed. My baby was becoming dehydrated and my milk just would not come in. I cried so hard, but my lactation counselor recommended holding her skin to skin, and I truly believe that it helped DD and I bond even closer. I still wish I was able to nurse her, but I know that I'm giving her nourishment, love and my all as her mommy. Hang in there, you're a great mom because you care so much.